1. Maycomb Times
November 26, 1935
Found GUILTY
Maycomb county-Thomas Robinson, 25 was accused of rape by the victim Mayella Violet Ewell, 19 on
November 21 1935 on the Ewell's property, which is located close by the country dump. Mr. Atticus
Finch, the defence lawyer for Mr. Robinson. Mr. Gilmer, the prosecutor, who was from Abbottsville and
was brought for the trial. Judge Taylor is presiding over the courtroom.
The trial began with Mr. Heck Tate, the sheriff, testifying as the witness. He stated that on November
21, Mr. Bob Ewell, the victim's father came in his office, saying his daughter, Mayella had been raped by
Tom Robinson. He said that when they got there, they found her lying in the floor and was badly beaten.
He asked her who did it and claimed that it was Mr. Robinson.
Mr. Atticus Finch asked three times if they called a doctor, but said no. Mr. Tate was asked to describe
her injuries. He explained that the right side of her face was badly bruised, and there were finger marks
all around her neck. Mr. Tate then leaves the witness stand.
Mr. Bob Ewell is called next to the witness stand. Mr. Gilmer asked him to retell what happened that
night. He started by saying that he came home before sundown, and heard Mayella scream, so he ran as
fast as he can, but ran into the fence so he ran to the window and saw Mr. Robinson raping her. He
continued by saying he was concerned for Mayella and so he couldn't go after Mr. Robinson. He ran to
Mr. Tate and brought him to his house.
Mr. Finch began to cross-examine Mr. Ewell. He asked if he called a doctor. He said he would never think
of it because it would cost him five dollars. After that they found out that Mr. Ewell was left- handed.
Mayella's injuries were on the right side of her face; her attacker would have used his left hand to attack
her
Ms. Mayella Ewell was the following to be called to the stand. As she tries to recall what happened on
November 21, she burst to tears saying that she was afraid that Mr. Finch would trick her outsmart her

2. just like what he did with Mr. Ewell.Judge Taylor calmed her down and presided. She explained that
when she saw him walk by, she asked him if he could chop a chiffarobe while her father was out. She
recalls“I went to the house to get a nickel and turned around an 'fore I knew it he was on me”.
According to her he grabbed her neck and threw her to the floor before taking advantage of her. Mr.
Finch asked her some more questions, but said that he was mocking her because he was referring to her
as “Miss" and "Ma'am". After a few more questions the courtroom found out that Ms. Ewell went to
school for three years and is the eldest of seven children. Mr. Finch then asked if she loved her father.
“He does tollable 'cept - ““Except when he's drinking?" Mr. Finch finished. She said he never touched
her. Mr. Finch asked if he remembered him hitting her. “I just don't remember ... it all happened so
quick ", she replied and then broke in tears. Mr. Finch told Mr. Robinson to stand up. Mr. Robinson
stood up and his left arm was shorter than the other because when he was in a young age, he caught it
in a cotton grin, making it useless. Later on he asked "Who beat you up? Your father or Tom Robinson?”
She ignored his questions and called the court a “yellow stinking coward?" and left the witness stand.
After a break, Mr. Robinson took the stand. He stated that Ms. Ewell and he have spoken many times
and worked for her before. He said that he asked him to fix the door not a chiffarobe. When he
discovered that the door wasn't broken. He was about to leave when Ms. Ewell shut the door and
started to grab him around his legs and started kissing him.He asked her if he could leave but Mr. Ewell
saw her and called he a “god-damn whore",and threat her saying “I’ll kill ya". He stated that he ran and
was “scared of arrest and being in court, just like I am now". Later on Mr. Finch had a speech about
treating everyone equally. Despite Mr. Finch's evidences, they decide that he was guilty.